Language Arts Books

This is one of the best books around on marketing your book on the internet. It presents all of the latest techniques in considerable detail, including information on the effectiveness of web pages, blogs, virtual book events, and the importance of the right keywords. The author has developed the concept of a virtual book tour, and explains it in the book. She also discusses press releases, podcasting, online syndication (ezine articles) and email newsletters.
The book is up-to-date and there's no doubt about her expertise in the area. She has written several books on the subject and runs an online marketing company. She also puts out an excellent newletter about marketing your book.
The information on building a website is detailed and particularly good and would be of tremendous value to anyone considering a website.
For anyone self-publishing a book, or getting published by traditional publishers, this book would be invaluable. It contains information that is difficult to find in other books, and it is very up-to-date. Highly recommended.

How can you level the playing field for your book to get any attention in the book market? The answer is through the Internet and more than half of the books are sold outside of the bookstore. Great quotations are highlighted throughout the book for inspiration like "Eight-seven percent of blog readers are book buyers." (Page 95)

Penny Sansevieri covers the gamut of Internet marketing tools like websites, keywords, search engines, e-commerce blogs, podcasts, Internet Press Releases, virtual book events, autoresponders, email newsletters, Ebooks and cultivating your relationship with Amazon. Each chapter is loaded with ready-to-apply URLs and insight. She writes with experience and authority about a topic where she is intimately familiar.

In fact, Sansevieri lays out her goal on page 169 saying, "I want RED HOT INTERNET PUBLICITY to be different. I want you to put down this book with not only a mountain of inspiration, but a plan as well. Book marketing isn't an easy task. It takes time, effort, and lots of sweat equity and most of all, it takes a plan."

Get this book--and let the planning (and success) for your Internet marketing of your book begin.

If you are looking for a load of websites to help promote your book, then look no further..."RED HOT INTERNET PUBLICITY" by Penny C. Sansevieri is the book for you...This book takes the place of a publicity agent and will save you thousands of dollars you would have had to dish out to such a person...This book is also crammed with information on blogs, how to create your own website, affiliate programs, getting your site listed in search engines, getting people to buy, and much more information you will need to know to sell your book...I would like to end this review by saying, "Thanks Penny for your great book."

Penny Sansevieri has cut to the chase with her amazing new book Red Hot Internet Publicity. It is easy to read but more importantly easy to understand!. It will give you the basic" what to do" and "what not to do" in a quick informative way. I have just recently used Penny's advice for my national internet launch of my new book, Thou Shalt Not Whine...The Eleventh Commandment and achieved a #1 Bestselling ranking on amazon.com within 24 hours. Thou Shalt Not Whine: The Eleventh Commandment: What We Whine About, Why We Do It and How to Stop My advice would be to definitely read Penny's book before you start advertising on the internet or else you could end up becoming a real WHINER and not a WINNER!

This book opened my eyes to a whole new world of book marketing. Gone are the days of traditional approaches like expensive press releases to mainstream media outlets. We are now living in a world where book promotion can be much more effective and much less expensive thanks to the online strategies outlined in this book.

Stacie Vander Pol, author of Top Self Publishing Firms

This book was almost impossible to put down, with such compelling content that I actually forgot I was having lunch in a restaurant while reading it! This book takes little time to read but should provoke considerable reflection in the reader. We ALL need this reminder of the impact of our words and that we CAN CONTROL our reactions to events and to others and that we MUST consider the consequences of our word choices on others.

The best book around on this subject. Intelligently written without being scholarly and academic. Get copies for yourself and all of your friends. The Bible and Jewish tradition have much to say about speech and that muscle in our mouths that causes so much trouble. Applying the wisdom in this book can change one's life. Be quick to listen, slow to speak. Heed the words of Proverbs and James 3:5-6. Speak like you want others to speak to you. Speak words that build up--not those that tear down.

Wonderful, thought provoking, life changing book. Really caused me to examine my speech habits and to consider the great power of my spoken words. This would be a great book for a club or even a study group. Jew or Gentile could gain much from reading and applying this book.

This book's awesome! Powerful messages that change the way one looks at the words. Loved it. Received as described!

I have owned this book for many years, both my son and daughter have a copy. This is an absolute must read not just for those of the us who are Jewish; but for anyone who struggles with the truth or is incapable of telling it. I have given this particular book many, many times. Only recently I thought of a business arrangement involving a particular couple who would benefit from this book. I have ordered this book for them and hope this reading sets them free.

I've read this book cover to cover twice and I reference it regularly--my copy is well-worn.

Christina Katz's tips, suggestions, and examples have been invaluable in helping me successfully launch my new writing career. This book has given me the ideas, the confidence, and the good old-fashioned "kick in the pants" that I've needed for years and haven't found anywhere else.

I'm recommending Writer Mama to all my writing friends, even those who aren't mamas--they can skip the mama-specific stuff and still get tons of good advice.

I purchased this book on Amazon a year ago, after reading many of the glowing reviews.

They're true.

Christina Katz de-mystifies the publishing process, along with great pitching and organizational tips to help you blossom as a freelance mama.

Due to incorporating many of Christina's ideas, I've landed articles in local and national magazines. I'm also revising my first completed novel, preparing to send it out into the world.

This book takes what is a cherished dream to many moms and lays bare the steps to make it happen. Are you ready?

I happen to be a freelance writer and a young mother, and this book teaches me a ton about how to do better at the first without sacrificing time or quality of care for my son. While the book does not actually cover how to get things done around a baby, she does do an admirable job of teaching you how to get the most out of a few minutes, and that is what I needed to know. Thank you for the EXCELLENT book!

I don't care if you are a Writer Mama, a Writer Dad or a singleton without kids, this book is indispensable if you want to become a writer/author and get published! As opposed to most books out there about writing that are intimidating and overwhelming, Ms. Katz's tone is warm and helpful. She shows you how to get published even though you don't have a newspaper column that 300,000 people read every week or a marriage to a famous celebrity. (For those of you in the dark here, I'm talking about Jessica Seinfeld and her book Deceptively Delicious. We all know she got that book deal because of her marriage to Jerry.) But I digress. Perhaps more important, Writer Mama is very well organized and filled with practical information. If I ever get published, it will be because of Writer Mama! So if you want to be a published author, don't walk, but run to your nearest Barnes and Noble or Borders bookstore. Or better yet, let your fingers do the work and place the order now on Amazon.

Women, and particularly Moms, face emotional challenges daily, such as: Did I love my children well? Am I presenting my best self professionally and coming across confidently? Am I subconsciously harboring insecurities about writing which ultimately keep me from putting pen to paper?

Don't get me wrong: this is a book about writing and taking practical steps to getting published, focusing on freelance writing but also including nonfiction; it does not presume to be a psychological book at all. HOWEVER, Katz hints at something a bit deeper and more subtle throughout the book: don't get overwhelmed, just take it one step at a time.

I like Christina Katz's approach of taking small steps slowly in achieving your goals. In truth, it is remarkably comforting to see it that way, and of course, it is the only way to go. Obviously I shouldn't be going for the front cover feature on my first try.... As a young writer, this book made me realize my own tragic flaw: I wanted to be happy, smart, articulate, and semi-famous, and that without much effort at all...

Katz demonstrates the "you can do it" mentality by the broad and very complete scope of issues that she deals with in the book (check out the table of contents to see what I mean). She takes nothing for granted, but clues you into all the big and little steps some people may assume you already know. I knew next to nothing about freelance when I picked it up, and now I am not nearly as intimidated by the freelance world.

And her good news is, work can be pleasurable and even fun! Browsing through the aisles of Barnes and Noble (or your bookstore of choice), with a hot beverage in hand, looking for the zeitgeist amongst bestsellers to get ideas for articles (getting "geisty" as she calls it)... how much more fun could it get?! If you are a born writer, you will hear her voice calling you like a siren, and you will find her tips, ideas, and her encouragement to write irresistible!

Writing The Right Word by writer, editor, and educator Dave Dowling (President of Write On Course, LLC, a company specializing in business and technical writing seminars...) is an excellent practical resource for writers of all skill and experience levels and backgrounds. Featuring entries in a lexicographic order, Writing The Right Word teaches aspiring writers the proper definitions of easily misused or confused words, such as levee versus levy, lightening versus lightning, spoor versus spore, and much, much more. A useful 235-page reference tool for avoiding common errors that computerized spelling-checkers will not detect, Writing The Right Word is a highly recommended and much appreciated addition to any personal or professional writing reference collection.

This is one reference book that won't languish on your shelf. Once one starts using it, it becomes second nature to double check your accuracy. My initial thought was that it was a bit slim (230+ pages), with largish type, but this is only a plus. Access becomes very quick and straightforward. The examples are clear and concise...it obviously de-fogs the memory banks (re proper word usage). ANY writer will use it and the book should be mandatory for any high school freshman (and your college student would thank you forever for the gift). Indeed, Dowling has presented us with a book that makes it much easier for writers--at the very least--to appear to be smarter...and that's a bargain. No regrets on this purchase. ((On second thought, it will help you with spoken english as well...ever use the wrong word at a meeting and feel like a schmuck?))

As a college-level instructor, I am often struck by how poorly most students use the English language. 'Writing the Right Word' is a unique and indispensible tool that can help anyone, from high school student to professional writer, learn how to write what he (or she) really means. In today's complex world, the importance of using the correct word cannot be overemphasized. This book explains the most common word confusions in a clear, concise, and 'user-friendly' format, complete with thought-provoking quotes at the beginning of each section. I found myself reading it for the sheer pleasure. Personally, I think this book should be required reading in the schools, and is definitely a 'must have' for anyone who makes his or her living as a writer. Dowling's descriptions are clear and understandable, his examples vivid and sometimes amusing. The sections on 'affect versus effect', 'that versus which' and 'who versus whom', words that rank among the most notorious for confounding the average writer, are themselves worth the price of the book.

The book is very useful and to the point. It is an excellent
resource for my business correspondence. Since people still
judge you on your ability to communicate in writing, it will
be very helpful. Will be using it frequently.

This concise guide is an excellent reference tool for any writer: published, aspiring to publish, business professional, or student. It contains most of the common word pairs that are likely to cause confusion, and provides clear definitions and examples for each. Equally importantly, this guide fills a gap that other reference texts fail to address. No writer should be without a copy!

Begin with Hero Archetypes and learn about the Chief or the Lost Soul or the Warrior. See what might make them tick.

Move to your Heroine Archetypes to visit with the Free Spirit, the Nurturer or my favorite the Spunky Kid. Learn how they got to be who they are.

Then you will learn how to use the Archetypes to Create Characters. As most writers understand, great characters are not one-dimensional and flawless. It is their layers that make them truly intriguing. Indiana Jones' fear of snakes made him believable.

Finally play with Archetype Interactions and see how the Waif might react to the Professor type. What if the Waif were layered with the Librarian and the Professor had a bit of the Swashbuckler in him. What would these two encounter? Where would they take your story?

Tami et al's book is invaluable to me. If I had no other book on characterization, I would be fine. My only quibble is that we didn't get the Villains, but Tami teaches a Villains Archetype class online as well as face-to-face. I just recently had the pleasure of taking that class with From The Heart Romance Writers.

Put this on your "must have" list if you want rich, complex characters.

In the quest of refining character, I have devoured a number of psychology texts and writer's guides, and I do believe that this one may be the best book on that topic I have ever discovered. I would quibble with Cowden, LaFever and Viders in their assertion that the 16 Master Archetypes are the only archetypes, but it's such a small point that it doesn't detract from what they present. Peppered with easily accessible examples, their book breaks down character into strong, clearly sketched components and then discusses how the palates may be blended--in individual character development and interpersonal relationships. I don't know if I would ever use any guide to create a character from scratch, but I'm always happy to find something to help me ensure that my characters behave consistently once they've been created. I expect this book to prove valuable for that, and I highly recommend it.

The book is a great tool for aspiring writers and screenwriters. It offers great insight into the different archetypes. That information is presented in a dictionary type form. Anyone can look up a personality type and find its virtue, flaws, style and background. I highly recommend the book to all aspiring writers.

I started using this book for my writing the very day I received it. It's great--I can't recommend it highly enough

I can't say enough good things about this book. Fantastic character profiles. I wish it had been available when I was studying Sociology at university! I own two copies so I can always have it at hand when I need some help. My ONLY complaint are the pop culture references as archetype examples. But, overlook Dr. Spock and Ally McBeal and this book is priceless!

Hello, I'm an American student of German. I have taken two college courses before picking up this book. I am a big fan of German music. I enjoy German bands that play schlager, Rock, Euro härte, Euro Techno, and even more traditional music.

I have not finished this book yet. Although, from my initial look. I see a very complete set of rule of German grammar for the English speaker.

This book is very dense. I would suggest, for most that have just started learning German, to consider a good overview of German before looking at this book, and consider reading it latter as a review or reference.

This book is a necessary addition for any English student's library seriously studying German.

This book is seriously AMAZING. Any problem you can possibly imagine with grammar is included! Really glad I bought this, probably the best book on the subject I own. Highly recommended for any German student (I'm in my 3rd year).

As other reviewers have already emphasized, this is an excellent English language resource for German grammar. An incredible amount of detail is given, and attention is paid both to general rules and specific exceptions, even down to the most obscure and archaic. Both difficult and simple grammatical terms are explained through examples in English, which makes this book an excellent tool for coming to a deep understanding of the German language.

As mentioned by others, this is no book for beginners. Only high-intermediate and advanced students should look into using this grammar, as it assumes a rather high level of proficiency on the student's part. However, for more advanced students, the explanations and detailed examples are priceless, shedding light on even the most complicated German passages.

A word of caution to teachers: please do not merely have your students read and memorize sections of this textbook. Hammer's Grammar is very complex and includes a large amount of exceptions, a number of which are no longer in common use. Classmates I've had have expressed frustration over having to memorize exception after exception to a rule that seems rare in itself. This book is best used as a reference for advanced learners, and ought not to be the setting in which general grammatical rules are taught. Rather than reading and memorizing, it would be better for students to study this book topic by topic, complete with class discussion, re-mastering the principles before moving on to the many exceptions.

There are also a number of slightly odd English sentences in this book that might confuse the reader. Beware, and proceed at a slow, steady pace.

This is an excellent book for those working on learning German. * HOWEVER * If you are like me and were never able to gain a firm grasp of the English language while in high school you should get this book and a book called "English Grammar for Students of German" to use along side of this one to help you understand the basics in basic terms. You generally need to have a decent grasp of the mechanics of the English language before learning a foreign language. This book goes into great detail and is absolutely packed with information on the mechanics of the German language. Getting the workbook that goes with the book IS A MUST, as just reading about German is worthless. Get the workbook and work the exercises on a separate piece of paper. This makes it so you can rework the exercises again later if needed. Be diligent and work in the workbook everyday. As you go through out your day and have thoughts pop into your head try to think of how you would write a sentence in German that would equal that thought.

I am glad I bought this book as I will have to stretch myself to get through it. It's a great learning tool.

I commenced learning German in college and concluded with enough credits to earn a minor. Two summers were spent in Germany taking intensive German language classes (Munich and Mannheim), while two additional summers were spent working as an intern with Deutsche Telekom in Frankfurt. Upon concluding my Masters in EE, I married a German and subsequently lived in Germany for 10 years. For 5 of those years I was general manager of my own consulting company. All of our business was in German.

Inspite of this background, on any given page of this manual, there are tips and tricks to assist me in refining my language skills. This book has it. If it is not there, you in all likelyhood don't need to know it. The themes are logically laid out. Any and every topic is easy to find. This book is highly recommended. Beginners should not resist having this gold mine in his library.

I have a couple other Kindle guides and find this one to be the best! I have come to find that Kindles are not just for reading books. There are so many more uses that most people aren't aware of. The Kindle Cookbook has all the "ingredients" for these additional uses. This is a must for Kindle users!

What a great help this book has been. I have used many of the recipes already and they all work wonderful. Love the step by step instructions as I am not fully techo-savy. It is well worth the price. Will use again and again. I love it.

I discovered David Emberson's book from reading the Kindle Discussion Group forum. I was reading to try to discover all those tips and hints that savvy users might share. This book came highly recommended and I see why! All the information is right here! And David presents it in easy-to-understand steps. I would unreservedly say that this book should be required reading for new Kindle users... and many experienced users, too, I suspect. (Is that you on the cover, David?!)

Great book for anyone with a new Kindle or if you haven't had time to figure out how to use your wonderful Kindle yet.

There is so much great information in an easy to use format on this ebook. Even though Amazon includes an instruction manual, there are many more things to learn that Amazon didn't include.

If you want to get the most out of your Kindle, this book is a must have!

I originally bought the kindle because I travel frequently and relished the thought of not carryinga bagful of books with me. I had no idea what the kindle was capable of until I read The Kindle Cookbook. The book is clear and concise and written for a general audience. If you really want to get the most out of your kindle this is a must have.

This book is awesome. It helped me to write my first book, "Lipstick Ghetto: The Girls' Guide to Escaping The 9-to-5 Rat Race." "Putting Your Passion Into Print" is an excellent resource for all writers (new and experienced). From getting the right idea for your book to selling it to publishers...this book is an invaluable tool. I have so many pages marked with "sticky notes"! Buy this book and you will learn how to be a successful writer.

I got an agent and a publisher for my book within 3 weeks of submitting the proposal - and not a single rejection letter! When would-be authors ask me for advice I send them to the store to buy Putting Your Passion Into Print! Bravo to the authors for a comprehsive guide to writing, publishing and marketing your book. Also helpful was "Write the Perfect Book Proposal" by Jeff Herman. These two books should be on every aspiring author's shelf. Scratch that. They should be on your bedside table....and in your hands.

Donna Cutting
Author of "The Celebrity Experience: Insider Secrets to Delivering Red-Carpet Customer Service"The Celebrity Experience: Insider Secrets to Delivering Red Carpet Customer Service

This book is full of info for almost every aspect of publishing and finding a literary agent. It covers more subjects than any other book I read, but it could go into a little more detail with some of them.If the chapter on proposals and query letters had more examples, it would have been a little more helpful. Their was a lot of information on marketing and publicity. I'm overall very pleased with this book, I learned enough in it to consider it a good purchase, and it will be another one I refer to often.

It is an important part of a writer's personal collection. I would recommend it to anyone looking to get published along with Michael Larsen's "How to Get a Literary Agent", and "Give em What they Want" by Blythe Cameson for good examples of query letters.

These three books are a good start for the fiction writer.

My brother and I have been working on our first book (Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations) for over a year now -- it goes to print this week -- and PYPIP has been a constant reference and priceless guide. From agents and proposals to writing, editing, publicity, and marketing, this book takes you through the whole process with practical advice and examples that bring the ideas to life. Whether you're writing fiction or non-fiction, cookbooks or poetry, PYPIP is the book for you. I would recommend this book to any aspiring writer. It's worth its weight in gold.

I absolutely loved this book! I've been researching many aspects of publishing, but this well-written, humorous book put the disparate elements of: writing query letters and book proposals, getting a manuscript in front of an agent, accepted by a publisher, and into the hands of readers, all in one place. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in a close, insider's look at the publishing world and how you can take your great idea and passion from the notes on a page to the book-signing stage successfully.
Their step-by-step approach, quotes from other writers, agents, publishers, editors, booksellers, and librarians are very helpful. I don't know of any other book out there that packs in so many facts, useful tools, and poignant quotes from those in the industry who have the power to help you take your book to the top of the best-seller list or leave you out in the cold with an unedited, unappreciated manuscript destined for a drawer. All that, and it's funny besides. What more could you ask for (other than a ticket to one of their workshops which I have no doubt are a blast)?
I'm very glad I resisted the temptation to check this out of the library. It's too valuable a reference book not to have next to me as I work.

Though I love movies, I've never considered writing for screen. But Screenwriting for Teens is not only a terrific guide for every screenie teen, but a good book to read for any writer. Screenwriting covers everything from genre definitions (and examples!) to dialogue rules, formatting guidelines and finance notes. Perfect for a teen's attention span, each chapter is only 2 pages long and covers a different concept (100 in all) of screenwriting basics.

This book is fun and thought-provoking at the same time. I loved all the movie references (I've seen almost all of them!) and have added Moonstruck and Laura to my To-Be-Watched list. But I also kept thinking about my Novel-in-Progress, and how Christina's advice about conflict and character-building needed to be worked into my book. This unusual teen-centered "textbook" (not textbook-boring at all) belongs on your bookshelf if you are interested in writing and especially if you want to be a screenwriter.

- [...]

Candidly, I have to confess that before I read Christina Hamlett's Screenwriting For Teens: The 100 Principles Of Screenwriting Every Budding Writer Must Know, I knew very little about screenwriting. This is not to say that after completing my reading I have become a maven on the subject matter, however, it did give me an excellent introduction into this fascinating and absorbing craft. And perhaps one day, with the tools and techniques Hamlett has provided me in her book, I will sit down and write my first film short.

Hamlett's vast experience as Professional Script Consultant, as well as an author of twenty-four books, one hundred and eighteen plays and musicals, four optioned films and screenwriting columns that have been published throughout the USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, was a natural choice to write an instructive manual on screenwriting. Although, the title may imply that the book is for teens, nonetheless, adults will likewise reap a great deal from its enlightening contents.

The text of the book is kept to a minimum and is written in a clear, upbeat, and conversational style that readers will enjoy. Then again, what really makes this book a standout is its simple and effective presentation. Each short chapter consists of a key concept about the craft of screenwriting that is followed by a "Look & Learn" section listing reference films, television shows, books and website. The intention of these lists is to reinforce the principles presented in the chapters. The last part of each chapter entitled, "Brainstormers," is an activity section containing writing exercises that can be used in connection with specific projects or simply a tool to wake up the creative side of your brain.

As an example, if you look to the chapter dealing with the concept that "Conflict Grows Out Of Character," Hamlett stresses that "conflict becomes the intersection where the participants respective intentions, beliefs, and past experiences all crash into each other." In other words, if your story does not have a conflict, your story is basically about nothing. And as mentioned, "conflict cannot emerge from nothing as it needs to be fueled by the clash of wills that occurs whenever people who feel they have nothing in common are forced to share the same space. Bringing these dissimilar personalities together is what ignites the conflict that will then drive the plot."

To reinforce this principle, Hamlett refers to the movie Lethal Weapon where she goes onto explain how conflict is introduced. This is followed by three suggested exercises such as writing about a situation at school or at home where the personalities of you and someone else clash.

Adding to the book's thoroughness is an extensive filmography containing movie titles and the year of their production as well as the lead actors.

The field of intelligent books addressed to teens pertaining to screenwriting is certainly not overpopulated, however, Screenwriting For Teens: The 100 Principles Of Screenwriting Every Budding Writer Must Know has now most admirably filled this void.

Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor Bookpleasures

My son got this book from the library and was pretty upset when he had to return it. He had to own it. He loves it.

In Screenwriting for Teens, Christina inspires young and old to dive into the film craft. The book's depth of information allows for it to transcend the high-school age group. One of the unique aspects of the book is the subject chapter exercises which prove both helpful and challenging. Participating in these exercises will enhance one's film craft. Highly recommending the book.

The idea of any kind of guidebook normally gives me the "ho-hums", but I must admit that this was a pleasant (and educational!)surprise. Christina Hamlett's Screenwriting for Teens is fun to read; it's pleasing and practical and comes across as more of an on-line chat with one's mentor than anything resembling a "how-to" text. And yet, this book is totally to be taken seriously!

Christina Hamlett knows writing, and she knows movies. She also knows how to speak to a young audience (though I feel this book would be invaluable to beginning writers of all ages). And, most importantly, she knows what it takes to make a good start as a writer. Her wise advice? It's all about you and your writing (and reading), NOT about how to make money, achieve fame, and create blockbusters.

Screenwriting for Teens is a nice visual package, as well, both structurally and graphically. I myself wish Ms. Hamlett had been my tutor in high school - she could've taught me how to do a proper outline! This book can be read effectively in its entirety, or section by section; the blocky layout is great for kids, who we all know can be (ahem) a bit impatient. Another plus for kids is the fact that Hamlett's voice is conversational yet professional, and not "teacher-ly". She's not trying to get young people to slog through yet another textbook, after all. This is about real world goals and practice.

Hamlett also offers great advice for beginning writers of all stripes, not just budding screenwriters. For example, she explains the differences between story and plot, how to write for various genres such as comdey, sci-fi, etc. And yet her advice for screenwriters is priceless - my own favorite Hamlett topic is "Characters Shouldn't Use Dialgoue to Explain Things to Each Other That They Already Know" (she proceeds to cite some dialogue from a Harry Potter film, but she's right so we must forgive her).

So, if you are a teen writer or an adult just fumbling around getting started, pick up this book, sit down, and learn, learn, learn! Screenwriting for Teens is enlightening, sensible, and FUN!

I love this book. My son's learning center teaches a new sign language word every week and this has been an excellent resource for me to continue (& keep up) his learning. There are arrowed pictures to ensure that you are signing properly, along with a helpful memory hint. It's amazing how quickly kids pick up sign language!

I like this guide. It is in alphabetical order and contains just about every word you would want to use to communicate with a child. My older son is also having fun learning the signs and using them with the baby. I started using this book with my son at about 8 months.

I bought this book to help me with simple signs to teach children under 2 years old who are not hearing impaired. I found the alphabetical listing made it easy to find words I wanted to use and the simple illustration made sure I was making the sign correctly. I think this book would work very well for someone wanting to learn basic signs for young children whether hearing impaired or not.

Very thorough guide. Works like a dictionary. Excellent listing of signs you can use daily. mb

This book is so helpful I carry it in our "Diaper" bag. (We actually use elimination communication so our baby hasn't used diapers since 11 weeks, but we still call it our diaper bag. See Potty Whispering: The Gentle Art of Infant Potty Training) I frequently pull this book out when my son needs a word. He is 19 months and knows about 70 signs. He even signs in his sleep (I wonder what he was dreaming the night he was signing "paper.") This is the most comprehensive signing book I have found. Lots of good kid words--like yogurt and cracker--that I couldn't find anywhere else. My biggest complaint about this book (and why only 4 stars) is the food words. It mainly has sweet based foods (and even signs for McDonald's.) There are limited fruits, veggies, and other healthy foods. So I also carry Fruits & Vegetables (Beginning Sign Language Series)Also, despite the great number of words in here, it is not totally comprehensive. It doesn't have the word "key." Every toddler loves keys so I'm not sure why that's missing. I'd love it if there was a website where I could recommend words for future editions.

For those of you uncertain about using sign as much as we do, it has really made having a toddler much simpler. He can tell stories about the time the dog had the bird in its mouth and we got the bird from the dog and took the bird outside. When he dropped his toy into a hole in the floorboards, his signing conveyed to me what had happened (since I didn't witness it.) When he got cactus thorns in his hands and was, naturally, screaming as I took them out, he signed "water." I got him a drink of water and he calmed down. Without the ability to make that request, he would have kept screaming (I never would have thought to give him water.) Some people have questioned if sign language at our level will delay speech. I asked a developmental pediatrician about that. She considers children who sign bi-lingual. Bi-lingual children often do have slight delays in their speech. However, the brain development that occurs is so beneficial that it is better for the children. At 19 months our son has his 70 signed words and about 20 spoken words. He spends much of each day repeating a verbal word he is just now learning (dishes is one of his favorites.)